Mass Emergency Notification System for Government

Mass Emergency Notification System for Government

Mass Emergency Notification System for Government

Although the IPAWS mass emergency notification system for government exists to alert citizens to the risk of danger, many state and local authorities are choosing to implement their own mass notification services in order to better serve their communities.

Each state and local authority has its own reasons for choosing a service to replace or compliment the IPAWS mass emergency notification system for government, but criticisms of the federal system include the lack of two-way communication and a lack of multi-lingual support.

The IPAWS mass emergency notification system for government also misses an opportunity to better serve communities by alerting them to temporary, non-emergency situations – for example, road closures, utility failures, and other infrastructure issues.

With Rave Alert from Rave Mobile Safety, state and local authorities can have an IPAWS-compatible mass emergency notification system for government that fills the gaps in the federal system. Quick to implement and easy to use, Rave Alert has multiple features that can help serve communities better than ever before.

The Rave Alert Mass Emergency Notification System for Government

The Rave Alert mass emergency notification system for government is a web-based platform through which system administrators can send emergency alerts and other non-urgent messages to citizens using a variety of communication channels.

The platform can be populated by either autoloading existing databases or via an SMS opt-in facility. Autoloading databases may be the quickest way to populate the platform, but there are significant advantages to using the SMS opt-in facility – particularly in terms of better serving communities.

Unlike the IPAWS system – which broadcasts warning messages via multiple channels to everyone – the Rave Alert mass emergency notification system for government gives citizens a choice about how they would prefer to receive emergency alerts and other non-urgent messages.

This is achieved via a branded web portal that citizens can log into once entered into the platform. The portal gives them the opportunity to select their contact preferences, add further contact information, and details that may be relevant before, during or after an emergency. These details could include:

The preferred language of communication (Rave autotranslates into 34 languages).

Any mobility issues or health issues that first responders should be aware of.

If they have medical training or are Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) qualified.

Depending on how the portal has been set up, citizens can also opt-in to receive different types of non-urgent messages in addition to emergency alerts. These can include the aforementioned infrastructure issues, details of community events, or other important location-specific information.

How the SMS Opt-In Facility Better Serves Communities

The SMS opt-in facility works by citizens texting a keyword to a dedicated short code number in the same way as customers of (say) Walmart may send a keyword to a dedicated number in order to take advantage of a special offer.

Like Walmart, state and local authorities can use different keywords for different products – or, in the case of a mass emergency notification system for government, different notification groups. Therefore, a citizen with a CERT qualification could join a location-specific group, a group that receives information about road closures, and the CERT qualified group to respond to requests for help during an emergency.

Citizens can opt in and opt out of groups as they wish – making the system ideal for visiting tourists, who can opt into a “tourism” group while they are in the area, and opt out again when they leave. As the Rave Alert mass emergency notification system for government supports two-way communication by voice, SMS, email and social media channels, the system can also be used to answer visitors´ enquiries.

Find Out More about Our Mass Notification Service

Rave Alert has been implemented by many state and local authorities throughout the country to provide a reliable and effective means of mass communication and better serve communities. As our mass notification service is IPAWS-OPEN for WEA/EAS initiated notifications, Rave Alert integrates seamlessly with the nation’s alert and warning infrastructure.

If you would like to find out more about our mass notification service, you are invited to request a free demonstration of Rave Alert in action. After a brief discussion about the nature of any existing mass notification service you already have in operation, our technical experts will organize the demonstration for a time that is convenient to you and any others who may be involved in the decision making process.

If you have questions about our mass notification service prior to requesting a demo, please do not hesitate to get in touch. We will be happy to answer your questions, and explain the features of the Rave Alert mass emergency notification system for government how they might apply in your specific circumstances. Get Rave Alert and make sure you get the right messages to the right people at the right time.